This past month the BFD has been very busy;
- At 4:47 pm on June 17 members were called to a grassfire west of Highway #20 near Rimbey. A burn permit was in place but the fire was left unattended and had spread. Crews contained the fire while the landowner was contacted, given further instruction and was left to closely monitor it.
- On June 20 about suppertime eleven members responded to a call of alarms ringing at a Bentley residence. The homeowner was stuck in our road construction traffic and couldn't quite make it home in time to contact the alarm company before our crews arrived. A quick investigation was conducted before ruling it a false alarm.
- In the early morning hours of June 21 fourteen members raced to the scene of an ATV accident on RR 1-2 immediately north of Bentley. The driver had left the road and struck a power pole. Firefighters administered CPR while awaiting EMS who continued this treatment. Unfortunately the patient succumbed to the injuries sustained.
- On June 25 at 10:52 am crews were called to a residence in Bentley where a patient was in need of medical assistance. Arriving at the same time as EMS, members helped safely package and load the patient into the waiting ambulance for transport to the hospital.
- At 10:04 am on June 26, firefighters were called to the Bentley High School after a report of alarms ringing. A heat detector was found to have been knocked loose, triggering the alarm.
- Ten BFD members were directed to another Bentley house on June 29, around suppertime. Alarms were ringing but the homeowners were simply cooking their dinner. A check was done and the all-clear was given.
- At 12:55pm on June 30, firefighters attended the scene of a 2-vehicle accident on Rainy Creek Road near RR 1-4. A tire from one truck had come off and struck the passenger side of the other. The occupants were uninjured and the BFD provided some minor hazmat and traffic control.
- Early in the morning on July 7, fourteen crew members were called to the Bentley Colony where a hog barn was on fire. Mutual aid was quickly called in from other departments; Lacombe, Blackfalds, Eckville and Sylvan Lake. With the hard work of 45 firefighters at its peak the fire was brought under control by 11:45 am The north barn was destroyed and about 4500 sows and piglets along with it, but the south barn was saved along with approximately 3,000 more pigs. Fire crews were released throughout the day, but Bentley remained on scene for over 14 hours. Many thanks to the colony and surrounding colonies for providing meals and drinks to hungry firefighters throughout the ordeal.
- And on July 10 at 4:07 pm the BFD received a call of a watercraft in distress on Sylvan Lake near Sunbreaker Cove. The 2 adults on board called 911 because their boat had run out of gas! Sylvan Lake RCMP as well as the BFD were both called out to the disillusioned boaters. Please keep in mind while enjoying yourselves on the water to keep the necessary equipment and safely items on board. Emergencies can happen in an instant!